Wales

Level crossing driver sentenced

A lorry driver who caused a crash with a train at a level crossing in Carmarthenshire has been given a suspended prison sentence. The judge said Oswald Davies had acted with a "high degree of neglect."

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Oswald Davies was transporting a full load of hay, weighing 300 tonnes, when the crash happened. Credit: British Transport Police

Oswald Davies described his actions in failing to use a level crossing properly as "terrifying", and said he was thankful nobody had been killed.

He did not follow the instructions to phone the signalman to get permission to cross.

As he crossed, the barrier on the opposite side came down, blocking his path. He stopped his lorry and had just got out of the cab when he was hit by the Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly train.

The court heard how the train driver had seen the lorry on the track, applied the emergency brake, ran out of his cab and dragged a colleague with him, helping them both avoid injury.

49 passengers were on board the train, travelling at 68mph, and four were taken to hospital suffering minor injuries.

The crash cost Arriva Trains Wales £819,821 - including the recovery of the train, repair costs and the running of replacement services.

The line was closed for two days for the vehicles to be recovered.

The train travelled 50 yards down the track, with the lorry wedged under its front. Credit: British Transport Police

Chief Inspector Sandra England from British Transport Police Welsh Sector said: "It is astounding that no one was seriously injured or killed. Davies' actions not only put rail staff and passengers' lives at risk, but also caused massive disruption to rail infrastructure."

"Taking a chance at a level crossing can have dire consequences. Stop, think and be sensible, because one moment of impatience could result in lives being destroyed."

Oswald Davies' hay lorry and trailer was hit by a commuter train in Carmarthenshire in December 2011.

A driver who admitted causing a crash with a train at a level crossing has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Oswald Davies, 49 and from Llanboidy, has been given a 37-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He will also have to do 300 hours of unpaid work on behalf of the community, and pay £1,200 costs.

He admitted endangering passenger safety, when he failed to alert a signalman by phone that he was about to use a crossing at Llanboidy, near Whitland in Carmarthenshire.

The judge at Swansea Crown Court described it as a "high degree of neglect".